It's uncertain whether these commuters know they are part of local history as they board a train Monday on the first day of service at downtown Skokie's Oakton-Skokie station. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media

Robert Wittmann, CTA general manager of construction, provides a tour of the new downtown Skokie CTA station Monday for U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-9th, CTA President Forrest Claypool (left) and Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media

A train map on the platform of the new Yellow Line CTA station in downtown Skokie provides riders with arrival time information. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media

Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen (left), U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-9th) and CTA President Forrest Claypool attend Monday's opening of the new Oakton-Skokie station in downtown Skokie. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media

The long-awaited $20 milion downtown Skokie CTA station, Oakton-Skokie, opened for business Monday. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media

An inbound train arrives Monday at Skokie's new downtown CTA train station on the first day it was open. The station was a long-awaited dream for many. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media

A crossing at the north end of downtown Skokie's new Yellow Line CTA station, Oakton-Skokie, allows riders easy access into and out of the station. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media

The new downtown Skokie Yellow Line station, simply called Oakton-Skokie, opened for the first time Monday. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media

Seen here is the entrance to the new downtown Skokie Yellow Line CTA station off of Oakton Street at the far south end of the terminal. The station opened for the first time Monday. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media

CTA President Forrest Claypool (from left), U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-9th, and Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen meet on the platofrm of the new Oakton-Skokie downtown station Monday, the first day the station was open. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Me